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Kings fall to Phoenix Coyotes, 3-1

By Helene Elliott

1:09 a.m. EDT, October 30, 2013

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Kings General Manager Dean Lombardi has been watching the club’s top prospects this week in Manchester, N.H. He might want to consider bringing a scorer back to Los Angeles with him.

Backup Kings goaltender Ben Scrivens looked strong in his second start for the team but was victimized on a double deflection on the Coyotes’ first goal and a power-play goal on the second tally. On the third, Chipchura finished off a give-and-go with David Moss to complete the “Gordie Howe hat trick” of a fighting penalty, a goal and an assist. The puck glanced off Chipchura’s foot and was reviewed but was determined to be a legitimate goal.

Jarret Stoll's power-play goal, his first goal this season, was the Kings' only score.

Kings Coach Darryl Sutter mixed his line combinations frequently but couldn’t create enough sparks to make things difficult for Phoenix goalie Mike Smith, who had been pulled after one period on Thursday when the teams met at Staples Center. The Kings won that game, 7-4. Smith stopped 41 shots on Tuesday

The Coyotes improved to 5-0-1 at home this season. The Kings are 4-3-0 on the road.

The Kings were scheduled to return to Los Angeles after the game and will face the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday night at Staples Center. Goalie Jonathan Quick is expected to start that game, which ends a stretch of three games in four nights.

The game was scoreless until the Coyotes broke through for two goals in the last two minutes of the second period. On the first goal, they kept the puck in the Kings’ zone several times before Morris took a long shot that caromed twice — once off the skate of Kings defenseman Robyn Regehr and then off the leg of Kings defenseman Drew Doughty — before slipping past Scrivens at 18:19. The assists went to Chipchura and Andy Miele, the first NHL point for Miele.

An offensive-zone penalty called on Kings right wing Justin Williams gave the Coyotes a late power play that they converted when Doan deflected a shot by Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Keith Yandle got the second assist on the goal, scored at 19:54.

The penalty-filled first period affirmed the value of Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell, who has long been considered one of the league’s top penalty killers. He played a team-high eight minutes 12 seconds in the period, as 10 penalties were called that resulted in six power plays. The Kings were down two men for 28 tense seconds but they protected Scrivens well and he gobbled up a few dangerous Phoenix chances.

Smith was particularly strong while facing a 13-shot barrage in the second period; among his best saves were an outstanding glove stop on Trevor Lewis early in the period and a fine chest stop on Jake Muzzin in the closing minutes.